Posts by Old Navy

40

How Many Here EVER Considered Going Back To Meetings?

by minimus in

jw
friends

once i left ,i was done.

in over 10 years i didn't return except for my mother's funeral.

did you ever re enter the kh after you left?.

Old Navy

Question from All or Nothing:

Old navy- how can I best wake up my still in family that they are in fact part of a high control cult as you put it?

As many here have advised, "waking up" any who are "deeply in" is a very difficult proposition because they're "mind controlled" to reject all things which run counter to their indoctrination. The Cult expends much effort in the conditioning process to instill great fear in the minds of the "believers" regarding "apostate" thoughts and literature.

Those who've had the best success warn about the temptation to make overt effort to convince the "believers" of the errors in their "faith" and the characteristics of the Cult. The risk is that rather than planting seeds to awaken them, the effort may instead drive them deeper into the Cult.

To me the best advice that I've heard is to simply treat them with loving kindness and show them by example that you're morally upright, ethical, honest and happy. Special emphasis on happy. What they see in you by example is much more powerful as a positive influence than anything said.

Once they've awakened to the point where they ask questions and are clearly looking for answers then more serious discussion can begin. But, they stress, the discussion must be non-confrontational, gentle, full of kindness and concern, and with much happiness.

That sort of advice to me makes much sense. I don't know if any of the discussion I had with active witnesses in the past ever contributed in any way to their potential awakening. I've not had any contact at all with any that I knew previously.

11

Education

by bola in

after waking up from the truth about the truth, i have decided to go to higher institution for further studies.

.

Old Navy

Something very strange is happening with the insert hyperlink function. Lockups and loss of control. Well DuckDuckGo can be found at ddg.gg and as a search engine is without the restrictions of Google.

Also, YouTube has numerous educational videos available on nearly any topic. You'll find much that interests you.

11

Education

by bola in

after waking up from the truth about the truth, i have decided to go to higher institution for further studies.

.

Old Navy

Quote from Jp1692:

The first thing you should to is learn to research things yourself. Google is a useful tool for searches.

Aye, excellent advice! Google is ok but DuckDuckGo is far better.

40

How Many Here EVER Considered Going Back To Meetings?

by minimus in

jw
friends

once i left ,i was done.

in over 10 years i didn't return except for my mother's funeral.

did you ever re enter the kh after you left?.

Old Navy

I was baptized at age 16 at a Circuit Assembly in the 50s when there was no "indoctrination," no "candidacy" and no other preparation necessaryt. Back then things were very much like Christendom in that any who desired baptism could be done when they were ready on the spur of the moment. The baptism was Biblical in the name of The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit; it wasn't a Corporate Ritual as it has become today. I was drawn to the witnesses through a high school classmate and in my approximately two and one half years of association really did not come to comprehend anything about how the Cult actually "works" behind the scenes and frankly, did not think of the WT Society as a Cult. I just knew that I didn't wish to pursue their very strict set of rules.

By age 19 I was ready to terminate my association with the witnesses and did so by entering active duty with the U.S. Navy. I spent 21 years in the Navy before entering the Fleet Reserve (retirement.)

My family was settled at our new location far from my home city and I was employed as a civilian with an Employment Training Center as an electronics instructor. Witnesses did occasionally call at our home to offer "Bible studies." I chose not to reveal to any that I had prior association with the Cult but did have questions and wanted to know more about how they did things, especially the "disfellowshipping" and the "shunning."

So on and off over the next ten years I participated in "Bible studies," attended meetings at the Kingdom Hall, and had frank discussions with many of the witnesses. I discovered early on that being, in their eyes, non-baptized and therefore not a "brother" was a great advantage. I had considerably more freedom to ask questions than those who were active witnesses in "good standing." Therefore, I was able to gradually find answers to the nagging questions. One of the elders took me under his wing and enabled me to "witness" many events that I'd otherwise not have been able to see.

Yes, it took those ten years of "undercover" observation to finally come to the conclusive realization that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was indeed a High Control Cult. Leaving their association the "second time" was much more purposeful and, thankfully, was very painless. Painless, that is, compared to what most of you here had to experience and endure with the disfellowshipping and the shunning. Thankfully, none of my family ever became members of the Cult so they were spared any of the potential repercussions.

I am truly in awe of the number of "believing" witnesses who have been able to come to their senses and successfully escape from the Cult. Their stories are frequently heartbreaking and the mental trauma evident in their stories is often painfully difficult to digest. I have the utmost respect for all who've found their freedom and who are making strides in their de-programming and adjustment to Real Life. It is very, very good that a support group such as this forum exists to offer hope to all who have doubts and to offer advice to all who bravely seek an escape.

23

last psychology session tomorrow

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

so tomorrow is my last appointment with my psychologist.

we are going to commemorate it by giving each other a letter.. sept 2016 i sat, a quivering wreck, in her waiting room.

i was terrified.

Old Navy

I completely agree with all prior commentary! What a powerful story! You have traversed a very difficult and winding road to get where you are today and you've survived! What an amazing set of experiences!

You've told us all how the Cult is able to bring one into compliance with its control mechanisms and how incredibly difficult it is to even think about seeking professional help, let alone actually doing it! Yes, thank you for candidly revealing the depths of your subjugation to the mind control overtures of the Cult and allowing us all to appreciate how you were ultimately able to break free!

Let us hope that many will read your story and follow in your footsteps!

64

Free to sin but still cannot bring myself to do it

by sinboi in

have da'd myself nearly 3 months ago.

now i am part of this world but i feel myself the odd one out.

something inside me is still blocking me to do the things i have been longing to do while i was still a jw, such as attending birthday parties, sex, etc.... just last nite, i was on the way to attend a birthday party.

Old Navy

SinBoi:

P.S. No need to be in a hurry with regard to the sexual experience.

After you've completed your basic military training it's very likely you'll be assigned overseas to Europe or Asia. Either way, once there, you'll have ample opportunity to acquire whatever level of sexual adventure your heart desires. But go easy. Take it slow and carefully. STDs are now very common and difficult to deal with. The military advantage is that should you acquire one you'll receive the best of treatment at not cost. Well, almost no cost: While healing you'll be restricted without Liberty for a week or two. Too many cases of STD and an Unsuitability Discharge will be arranged. Not good.

64

Free to sin but still cannot bring myself to do it

by sinboi in

have da'd myself nearly 3 months ago.

now i am part of this world but i feel myself the odd one out.

something inside me is still blocking me to do the things i have been longing to do while i was still a jw, such as attending birthday parties, sex, etc.... just last nite, i was on the way to attend a birthday party.

Old Navy

Quote from SinBoi:

Now I am worried about my military obligation in a year's time. Will I be able to get myself involve in bayonet fighting?

If you intend to fulfill a military obligation go about it intelligently. One of the first things you'll be given is the Basic Battery to determine your education/intelligence level as a guide to what sorts of skills you may be suited/qualified for. Score high and you'll have a choice of several non-combatant skills in the technical/electronics/intelligence fields or in the medical/dental/hospital fields. There you'll receive excellent job preparation in military schools which are very effective. For services the best choices are: Coast Guard; Air Force and Navy. The Army has some specialties which are non-combatant but should you be drawn to the Marine Corps (a part of the Navy) you'll be a grunt no matter your specialty.

The Marines are great for growth and transformation into maturity but all jobs require battlefield training and field exercises. Marine Corps medics are Navy Hospital Corpsmen who wear the Marine uniform with the Navy Rating Badges.

40

What really should be the role of Women in the congregations?

by Old Navy in

the presumably "biblical" practice of limiting the way women participate in congregational matters of the wtborg cult inc. (as well as certain other sects of christendom) may be a gross mis-interpretation of what paul meant.

i'm inclined to agree completely with this account of what paul really meant.. thoughts anyone?

aren't women more deserving of greater participation and respect?.

Old Navy

Quote from Long Haired Gal:

I don't want ANY role in any congregation or any religion, thank you very much!
Glad this nonsense is behind me.

Isn't freedom wonderful? I understand. So do the Watchers. You've gained freedom from The Cult and that is amazing!

23

Pale.Emperor And The Hypnotists

by pale.emperor in

jw
friends

even as a jw i was fascinated with hypnosis and seeing people like derren brown putting people under almost instantly.

in the last 2/3 years when i was a jw but beginning to wake up from the bullshit i read up on hypnosis, watched a few youtube demos and explanations etc.

but never actually studied it seriously until about a year ago.

Old Navy

You've done a great service Pale Emperor! Exceedingly informative!

Hypnosis, or hypnotic states, are quite natural and are not inherently evil or wicked. We do indeed experience several varying levels of hypnotic state throughout the course of each day. Those who are "hooked" on TV or Movies experience numerous events. What takes place in the typical Kingdom Hall as the "indoctrination" is methodically doled out can be intensely hypnotic.

Life is Wonderful! We are able to make countless choices as we "feel" the need! We can be and are influenced by "skilled operators!"

Not to worry. We do have the means to "resist" all badness once we have knowledge.

40

Return of the Dub (plus surprise guest)

by TerryWalstrom in

jw
friends

return of the dub (plus surprise guest)dealing with just one frisky, bright-eyed jehovah’s witness is a handful.one on one is manageable.

two jw’s is more like juggling chainsaws or french kissing alligators.i had a return visit the other day and now, the jw was returning the 2nd time, but with another dub.what would my strategy be?

that’s how the day was spent.

Old Navy

Quote from Now What?:

I hate to veer off target but on a similar vein, why didn't an all knowing God foresee the disasterous consequences of allowing the angels to materialize on earth in the first place?

He did! It was all part of the Great Plan. It encompasses the Whole Creation. The Final Outcome will be very, very good.